GreatScottUtah.com » Sellers

Incredible Location with Loads of Potential…

scott — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:51:18 +0000

Price: $365,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2 Full

Garage: 4

Square Feet: 2,671

This California Rambler is great and near Cottonwood Club location. Lot (.68) is large, deep and is surrounded by tall 40 foot pines. Tons of privacy and shade. Home needs updating but has tons of potential. Huge master bedroom with large bath and fireplace. Open floor plan that would be ideal for entertaining. Plantation shutter in LR and Dining Room. 3 fireplaces. New Vinyl fence. 4 car garage is long and deep with a huge work shed out back. This is your chance to be in one of the best areas in the Valley. Walking distance to Cottonwood Club and schools.

http://tour.circlepix.com/tour.htm?id=825105&mls_tour=1

Winter Home Preparedness

scott — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:57:48 +0000

With the fall season upon us, now is the time to do some routine maintenance around your home to prepare for the cooler weather ahead. Taking the time to do some work now may also save on some major expenses later on.

Tip #1: Clean outdoor furniture and store for the winter.

If you have outdoor furniture, make sure to clean all parts of the furniture, including the cushions, prior to putting it away for the winter. If your furniture has metal frames, make sure to check for rust damage and repair it, if necessary, prior to storing. If you have the storage room at your home, put your outdoor furniture away during the winter. If you cover your furniture, allow for airflow to help prevent mold or mildew.

Tip #2: Have your chimney inspected by a professional.

If you have a fireplace, consider having your chimney checked out by a professional chimney cleaner before starting the first fire. All chimneys should be checked out at least once a year prior to use to look for any damage and to have it cleaned. This maintenance will prevent possible chimney fires.

Tip #3: Check your windows and doors for air leaks.

An easy way to check for leaks is to move a lighter around the window or door frame and see if the flame moves with a breeze. If you find a leak, you can caulk it, weatherstrip it or in some cases, you may have to replace the wood frame. For door leaks around the bottom of the door, you can put on a new door sweep. Repairing these leaks can save you money on your energy bill during the cold months.

Tip #4: Check your heating system.

Change or replace filters for your heating system, if needed, and clean the vents. Now may be the time for a professional duct cleaning as well.

Tip #5: Inspect your insulation.

Make sure you have proper insulation in both your attic and basement. Look for any dark, dirty spots which may indicate that you have air leaks coming into your home that need repair.

Tip #6: Stock up on firewood for the cold winter months.

Make sure you have enough kindling and wood for the winter months and store it at least 30 feet away from your home. By storing your firewood away from your home, you’ll reduce your home’s fire load and the chance of attracting termites.

Tip #7: Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer.

Poor maintenance allows lint to build up in the exhaust duct which is a fire hazard.

Tip #8: Make sure all electrical holiday decorations have tight connections.

If possible, use 3-prong plugs and cords. The use of 2-prong adapters, which permit 3-prong plugs to be used in 2-prong outlets, doesn’t always provide grounding to protect against shock. Remember to unplug decorations when not in use.

Tip #9: Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter.

Keeping this clean of cooking grease will help keep a stovetop fire from spreading.

Tip #10: Check water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator icemaker and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles.

Replace hoses that show signs of leaking to help avoid water leaks and costly repairs later on.

©2010 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned And Operated by NRT LLC.

Median Home Prices Up In 60% of Cities in 1st Quarter

scott — Wed, 19 May 2010 16:34:22 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) — Home prices rose in nearly 60% of U.S. cities in the first quarter of this year, the National Association of Realtors says. The median sales price for previously occupied homes rose in 91 out of 152 metropolitan areas tracked in the January-March quarter versus a year ago. There were double-digit price increases in 29 cities.

CHART: Median sales price by metro area

That’s a sharp improvement from the fourth quarter of last year, when prices rose in about 40% of cities. The national median price was $166,100, or 0.7% below the first quarter of last year.

Sales of foreclosures and other distressed properties made up 36% of all sales in the first quarter.

The largest percentage price increase was in Saginaw, Mich., where the median price doubled to nearly $61,000. Prices in Akron, Ohio were up 95% to about $95,000. Prices in Cleveland were up 54% to $106,400.

The largest price decline was in Orlando, where they dropped 15% to nearly $132,000. Prices in Ocala, Fla., fell 14.5% to a median of nearly $93,000. Prices in Cumberland, Md., fell 14.4% to $98,300.

FHA is set to reduce closing costs paid by a seller…

scott — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:27:04 +0000

The FHA will reduce allowable seller concessions — the percentage sellers can take from the sales price of a home to fund closing costs — from 6% to 3%. According to an announcement in January, the current level of 6% exposes the FHA to excess risk by creating incentives for appraisers to increase the value of these homes. The change will take place in “early summer,” according to the FHA, but a spokesperson said no specific date has been set.

The closing costs include fees for origination, attorneys, appraisal and inspections, title search, title insurance, credit reports, and more. Down payment assistance is not included as a closing cost.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home please contact me for specific details and how this change can impact your real estate transaction.